Golf is considered a metaphor for life. It challenges you to be the best you can be as you work daily on your personal skills.

This is how Margie Booker, a member and parliamentarian for the Top Lady Clubbers, approaches the game and her life.

She has been playing golf since she started lessons in summer 1997 with a girlfriend. Her girlfriend dropped out. Ms. Booker continued.

She finds the game “stimulating, exciting, electrifying, exhilarating, gratifying, interesting and enjoyable,” she says. And when an interest group started among African-American women in April 1998, Ms. Booker was a part of it.

She became vice president under the president and founder, the late Marie Moore. Ms. Booker also served as president in 2000.

On Saturday, Aug. 25, the 20-member Top Lady Clubbers is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a banquet. Ms. Booker is the volunteer chair. Lillian Lambert, a Richmond-based entrepreneur, author and golfer, is the keynote speaker. The golfers will use the anniversary to pay tribute Ms. Moore, its founder.

The Lady Clubbers also will host the Marie Moore Memorial Member/Guest Golf Tournament on Sunday, Aug. 26, at Jefferson Lakeside Country Club.

When the group was started, there was no organization in the Richmond area supporting women wanting to learn the game, Ms. Booker says. Through the Top Lady Clubbers, she has enjoyed not only playing golf, but the fun, exercise and relationships she has established with other women golfers.

Her golfing partners call her “Fairway Margie” because she is not the best driver but keeps her ball on the fairway. “I play straight and don’t try to outdo people,” she says. “I keep the ball on the green.”

Her bottom line: The game should be fun, especially for women.

Her advice to new players: “You may not be the best player, but it’s important to play your own game. It is also important to understand, when playing in a tournament, golf is then a team sport and players contribute to the team.”

Meet golf lover and Top Lady Clubbers anniversary banquet chair, this week’s Personality Margie R. Booker:

No. 1 volunteer position: Chair of the Top Lady Clubbers’ 20th Anniversary Banquet.

Occupation: Retired director of grants and contracts accounting and effort reporting at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Date and place of birth: May 16 in Wilson, N.C.

Current home: Henrico County.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Virginia Union University; MBA, Virginia Commonwealth University.

Family: Daughter, Monica.

Mission of Top Lady Clubbers: To operate a nonprofit association to promote sportsmanship and competition among its members, to sponsor league play and to hold tournaments and other events. Also to cultivate fellowship, promote membership and recruit women age 21 and older who are interested in the game of golf.

Why association was founded: The golf club was founded to respond to the needs and aspirations of African-American women in ways that existing golf clubs did not. It was the intent to provide a nurturing, learning, non-threatening and fun-filled environment as the members learned the game of golf. It was decided that Top Lady Clubbers would be an entertaining club with a relaxed agenda, not imitating any other social organization. The focus was to learn to play golf with lots of gratification along the way.

Why I am excited about Top Lady Clubbers: The quality of play has improved significantly in the 20 years. Members play at various skill levels, yet no one appears to be intimidated by the more skillful players. I am also excited about the way the group welcomes new golfers with such supportive and warm attitudes.

Why I play golf: I started playing golf when I discovered that tennis probably would not be my game of choice during my retirement years. I continue to play because of the relationships established with other golfers, the exercise, relaxation and the challenges I face to minimize the number of strokes to make a good score.

Favorite course: Belmont Golf Course in Henrico County.

Favorite male golfer: Dustin Johnson currently is my favorite. Tiger Woods was my favorite for many years.

Favorite female golfer: Annika Sorestan from Sweden. She has won 10 majors. She autographed my Kings Mill golf cap and I have not used it yet.

How I start the day: I try to start with a positive attitude. I read Bible scriptures to strength my faith. Then I read selections from one of my TV ministers’ books. I then review my agenda for the day for needed changes.

If I had more time, I would: Consider playing golf twice a week. Perhaps, I would even take a few short trips just to play a relaxing 18 holes of golf.

A quote that I am inspired by: “No matter where you’re headed, your journey begins right where you are standing.” — Patricia Russell-McCloud.

Kindergarten taught me: How to be a team player as well as being capable of doing things independently.

The person who influenced me the most: My mother. She was my role model.

Book that influenced me the most: “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Dr. Spencer Johnson.

What I’m reading now: “Camino Island” by John Grisham.

Next goal: To improve my handicap by working more on my putting.